Rope-clamp



i J. now. ROPE CLAMP.

(No Model.)

No. 418,555. Patented Dec. 31,1889.

WITNEEEEE. v

and thus permit a more NITE; STATES YOATENT OFFICE.

JOHN DOW, OF PONTIAC, RHODEISLAND.

ROPE-CLAIM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 418,555, dated December 31, 1889.

I Application filed May 4, 1889. Serial No. 309,604. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN DOW, of Pontiac, in the county of Kent and State of Rhode Island, have-invented a. certain new and useful Improvement in Rope-Clamps, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention has reference to an improvement in a rope-clamp by which the same is peculiarly adapted for use in supporting, stretching, and securing clothes-lines.

The invention consists in the peculiar and novel construction of a frame provided with .two or more channels in which two or more ropes or lines can be placed, a binding-lever, and preferably a sustaining-bar, as will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

Figure 1 is a side View of my improved rope-clamp, shown partly in broken lines.v

Fig. 3 is Fig. 2 is an end View of the'same. a sectional view on the line X X of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side view of a modified form of the clamp.

In the drawings similar numbers of reference designate corresponding parts throughout.

In stretching clothes-lines it is very convenient to secure one end of the line and then pass the line from one support to the other until the other end of the line is reached. For household use anumber of posts or other means of support are generally used and the line is stretched from post to post.

My improved rope-clamp forms a convenient device for securing both ends of the line, thorough stretching of the same. 1

The device consists of the base 6, provided with screw-holes 7 7, for permanently secur- I ing the device to a post, fence, house, or other vertical surface. The base is provided with the partition 8, which, with the two cheekpieces 9 9, forms two grooves or channels, in each of which a rope or line may be placed. It is obvious that, if required, more than two such channels may be formed by the use of more than one partition 8; but for ordinary household use only two channels are required. The bar 10 is secured in or cast with the cheekpieces 9, extending from one to the other, and

forms the support for the rope or line. -A clamp-lever is pivoted on the pin 11, secured in the cheek-pieces 9. This clamp-lever is provided with the bent handle 12 at its outer end and the cam-shaped clamping end 13 on the opposite end. The central part of the clamp-lever at 14 has a semi-cylindrical recess, in which the coiled spring 15, surrounding the pin 11, is placed. One end of the coiled spring 15 is secured to the pin 11. The other end bears against the lowerpart of the clamp-lever, as is shown in Fig. 3. On each side of the clamp-lever the cheek-pieces 16 are cast with the lever. Through these cheeks the pin 11 passes and forms the pivotal bearing of the clamp-lever. The cam or clamping portion 13 of the clamp-lever is V slotted, so as to pass below the dividing-partition 8 and bear 011 the rope or line.

The operation of the deuce is so simple that any ordinary domestic can readily understand and use the same. One of my improved clamps being secured in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the end 17 of the clothes-line is passed over the supporting-bar 10 and through one of the grooves below the clamping-lever, which is held open against the strain of the coiled spring by pressingagainst the handle 12. The line is now placed 011 the ordinary supports, extending from support to support until the other end 18 reaches the clamping device. This end 18 is passed over the supporting-bar 10 and behind the clamplever, and when thus temporarily secured the end 17 or 18, or both simultaneously, are drawn down until the whole line is as rigidly stretched as is desirable. During this stretching the coiled spring 15 keeps the clamp-lever always in contact with the rope or line and instantly holds the same firmly when the de 10, the pin 11, the clamp-lever provided with handle 12, the cam 13, the cheeks l6, and spiral spring 15, constructed to support and secure the two ends of the rope or line, as described.

2. In a rope-clamp, the combination, with the base 6,partition 8, and cheek-pieces 9, of the clamp-lever consisting of the handle 12,

the slotted cam 13, adapted to hold two ropes, and the cheeks 16, the coiled spring 15, and 10 the pin 11, constructed to clamp two ropes, as described.

JOHN DOW". Vitnesses:

J. A. MILLER, J r., M. F. BLIGH. 

